From the first contact with Europeans the [[Cherokee Indians|Cherokee Indians]] had settlements called the [http://sciway3.net/scgenweb/pickens-county/images/sheriff-01.pdf Lower Cherokee Villages] in the northwest part of [[South Carolina|South Carolina]] and part of [[Georgia|Georgia]]. The most prominent was the town of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keowee Keowee]. Several important Indian trails radiated out from these villages. These trails would eventually become migration routes for European settlers. The Cherokee resisted most European settlement near their villages. The Cherokee sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War. By 1777 Patriot forces attacked and drove the Cherokee from South Carolina. Patriot veterans soon began to settle in former Cherokee areas.

From the first contact with Europeans the [[Cherokee Indians|Cherokee Indians]] had settlements called the [http://sciway3.net/scgenweb/pickens-county/images/sheriff-01.pdf Lower Cherokee Villages] in the northwest part of [[South Carolina|South Carolina]] and part of [[Georgia|Georgia]]. The most prominent was the town of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keowee Keowee]. Several important Indian trails radiated out from these villages. These trails would eventually become migration routes for European settlers. The Cherokee resisted most European settlement near their villages. The Cherokee sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War. By 1777 Patriot forces attacked and drove the Cherokee from South Carolina. Patriot veterans soon began to settle in former Cherokee areas.

−

[[Charleston County, South Carolina|Charleston]] was founded in 1670 by English and African immigrants from the Caribbean island of [[Barbados|Barbados]]. It became the largest city and capital of South Carolina. Many trails and roads radiated out from Charleston. In 1747 the Old South Carolina State Road was opened and settlers began pouring north along it into the interior. In 1753 the British colony of South Carolina built [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Prince_George_(South_Carolina) Fort Prince George] across the river to the east of the Cherokee town of Keowee. It is likely that a branch of the Old State Road went to Fort Prince George.

+

[[Charleston County, South Carolina|Charleston]] was founded in 1670 by English and African immigrants from the Caribbean island of [[Barbados|Barbados]]. It became the largest city and capital of the South Carolina colony. Many trails and roads radiated out from Charleston. In 1747 the Old South Carolina State Road was opened and settlers began pouring north along it into the interior. In 1753 the British colony of South Carolina built [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Prince_George_(South_Carolina) Fort Prince George] across the river to the east of the Cherokee town of Keowee. It is likely that a branch of the Old State Road went to Fort Prince George.

−

As roads developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the roads provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a road, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting highway.

+

As roads developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the roads provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a road, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting highway.

=== Route ===

=== Route ===

Line 22:

Line 22:

:*[[Newberry County, South Carolina|Newberry]] 1750s by Germans, English, and Scots-Irish

:*[[Newberry County, South Carolina|Newberry]] 1750s by Germans, English, and Scots-Irish

:*[[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens]] 1753 by Scots-Irish

:*[[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens]] 1753 by Scots-Irish

−

:*[[Spartanburg County, South Carolina]] 1755 by Scots-Irish

+

:*[[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg]] 1755 by Scots-Irish

−

:*[[Greenville County, South Carolina]] 1777 by Scots-Irish, and Revolutionary War Veterans

+

:*[[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville]] 1777 by Scots-Irish, and Revolutionary War Veterans

+

:*[[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]] 1753 by English, and Scots-Irish

+

:*[[Oconee County, South Carolina|Oconee]] 1784 by Germans, and Revolutionary War Veterans

+

+

:*[[Polk County, North Carolina]] about 1767 by Scots-Irish

+

+

:*[[Stephens County, Georgia]] about 1777 by Revolutionary War Veterans

+

+

There are three possible routes the Old South Carolina State Road may have taken to exit the state.<ref>Adam Prince, ''1920 State Trunk Routes - An Overview'', http://www.gribblenation.com/scroads/state/1920.html (accessed 10 April 2011).</ref> Over the years the route may have shifted:

+

+

:*from Newberry to Union to Spartanburg to Landrum in [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina]] on the route that would become the old [http://www.milebymile.com/main/United_States/North_Carolina/byway/Pacolet_River_Byway.html Appalachian Highway] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_176 U.S. Route 176] to [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County, NC]].

+

:*from Laurens to Greenville to Travelers Rest in [[Greenville County, South Carolina]] north along what became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_25 U.S. Route 25] to [[Polk County, North Carolina|Polk County, NC]].

+

:*from Greenville west to Clemson and Seneca (earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Prince_George_(South_Carolina) Fort Prince George] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keowee_(Cherokee_town) Keowee]) in [[Oconee County, South Carolina]] probably overlapping the [[Old Cherokee Path]] west to Toccoa, [[Georgia]] (earlier [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tugaloo Tugaloo]) via what became [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_123 U.S. Route 123].

'''Connecting trails.''' The Old South Carolina State Road linked to other trails at each end. Other trails also crossed it in the middle.<ref>''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.'' (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 847-61. ({{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092 WorldCat entry.], and William E. Myer, ''Indian Trails of the Southeast''. (Nashville, Tenn.: Blue and Gray Press, 1971), 12-14, and the book's pocket map "The Trail System of the Southeastern United States in the early Colonial Period" (1923). ({{FHL|54678|item|disp=FHL Book 970.1 M992i}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1523234 WorldCat entry].</ref>

'''Connecting trails.''' The Old South Carolina State Road linked to other trails at each end. Other trails also crossed it in the middle.<ref>''Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.'' (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 847-61. ({{FHL|1049485|item|disp=FHL Book 973 D27e 2002}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50140092 WorldCat entry.], and William E. Myer, ''Indian Trails of the Southeast''. (Nashville, Tenn.: Blue and Gray Press, 1971), 12-14, and the book's pocket map "The Trail System of the Southeastern United States in the early Colonial Period" (1923). ({{FHL|54678|item|disp=FHL Book 970.1 M992i}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1523234 WorldCat entry].</ref>

Line 30:

Line 42:

:*the Atlantic Ocean 1670

:*the Atlantic Ocean 1670

−

:*[[King's Highway]] about 1704

:*[[Fort Moore-Charleston Trail]] about 1716

:*[[Fort Moore-Charleston Trail]] about 1716

:*[[Camden-Charleston Path|Camden-Charleston Path]] 1732

:*[[Camden-Charleston Path|Camden-Charleston Path]] 1732

+

:*[[King's Highway]] built 1732-1735 in SC<ref>"South Carolina Counties and Parishes - 1740" in ''The Royal Colony of South Carolina'' at http://www.carolana.com/SC/Royal_Colony/sc_royal_colony_counties_parishes_1740.html (accessed 22 April 2011).</ref> connecting seaport towns from [[Boston, Massachusetts]] to [[Charleston, South Carolina]] and eventually [[Savannah, Georgia]]

:*[[Charleston-Savannah Trail]] late 1730s

:*[[Charleston-Savannah Trail]] late 1730s

+

:*[[Secondary Coast Road]] late 1730s or early 1740s

:*[[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] 1747

:*[[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] 1747

:*[[Old Cherokee Path]] a pre-historic trail from the [http://sciway3.net/scgenweb/pickens-county/images/sheriff-01.pdf Lower Cherokee Villages] to [[Washington County, Virginia]] on the [[Great Valley Road]] (also known as the [[Great Indian Warpath]])

:*[[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] 1747

:*[[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] 1747

−

''Between'' those two ends the [[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] also crossed several other important migration routes:

+

The possible fork that went to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tugaloo Tugaloo], [[Stephens County, Georgia]] would have connected to the following trails in that area:

+

+

:*Savannah River

+

:*[[Coosa-Tugaloo Indian Warpath]] was a pre-historic path that went toward [[Birmingham, Alabama]]

+

:*[[Tugaloo-Apalachee Bay Trail]] was a pre-historic trail headed for the Florida panhandle and probably [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mission_San_Luis_de_Apalachee Mission San Luis de Apalachee]

+

:*[[Augusta and Cherokee Trail]] was a pre-historic trail from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tugaloo Tugaloo] originally to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savannah_Town,_South_Carolina Savannah Town, South Carolina] and later [[Augusta, Georgia]]

+

:*[[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] 1747

+

:*[[Fort Charlotte and Cherokee Old Path]] after 1765 followed the northeast side of the Savannah River down to old [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Charlotte_(South_Carolina) Fort Charlotte] in northwest [[McCormick County, South Carolina]]

+

:*[[Unicoi Trail|Unicoi Turnpike]] opened to a few European traders 1690, but the wagon road was not opened to settlers until 1819 from near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tugaloo Tugaloo] headed northwest to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overhill_Cherokee Overhill Cherokee villages] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoxville,_Tennessee Knoxville] in [[Tennessee]]<ref>Lowell Kirk, "The Unicoi Turnpike" at http://www.telliquah.com/unicoi.htm (accessed 3 May 2011).</ref>

+

+

''Between'' those ends the [[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] also crossed several other important migration routes:

−

:*[[Occaneechi Path]] pre-historic in [[Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County]]

+

:*[[Occaneechi Path]] a pre-historic trail with a junction in [[Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County]] connecting the [http://sciway3.net/scgenweb/pickens-county/images/sheriff-01.pdf Lower Cherokee Villages] to [[Petersburg, Virginia]]

−

:*[[Fall Line Road]] about 1735 (overlapped the Occaneechi Path) in [[Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County]]

+

:*[[Lower Cherokee Traders' Path]] a pre-historic trail with a junction in [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg County]] connecting the [http://sciway3.net/scgenweb/pickens-county/images/sheriff-01.pdf Lower Cherokee Villages] to the Catawba Indians ([[Charlotte, North Carolina]])

:*[[Fall Line Road]] about 1735 (overlapped the Occaneechi Path) with a junction in [[Lexington County, South Carolina|Lexington County]] connecting [[Fredericksburg, Virginia]] to [[Montgomery County, Alabama|Montgomery, Alabama]]

:*[[Upper Road]] about 1783 in [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg County]]

+

:*[[Old_South_Carolina_State_Road|Old South Carolina State Road]] 1747

+

:*[[Upper Road]] about 1783 with a junction in [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg County]] (overlapping the Lower Cherokee Traders' Path) connecting [[Fredericksburg, Virginia]] to [[Macon, Georgia]]

−

'''Modern parallels.''' The modern roads that roughly match the old Old South Carolina State Road start in Charleston, South Carolina. Take Interstate 26 west to Goose Creek. From Goose Creek follow [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_176 US Route 176] northwest to Henderson, North Carolina.

+

'''Modern parallels.''' The modern roads that roughly match the old Old South Carolina State Road start in Charleston, South Carolina. Take Interstate 26 west (that is north) to Goose Creek. From Goose Creek follow [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_176 U.S. Route 176] northwest to Henderson, North Carolina.

=== Settlers and Records ===

=== Settlers and Records ===

−

The Great Valley Road was the trail leading to the north end of the Old South Carolina State Road. A few colonists settled in Washington County Virginia in the early 1750s but decided to leave for safety reasons during the French and Indian War. The Lower Cherokee Villages on the South Carolina and Georgia part of the Old South Carolina State Road inhibited most European settlements until the American Revolutionary War. Settlers prior to 1777 were most likely using trails other than the Old South Carolina State Road to reach their new homes.

+

The '''Old South Carolina State Road''' from Charleston to Orangeburg was part of earlier routes and already well-traveled by the time the State Road opened in 1747. Settlers who came via Charleston may have arrived by sea, or by the [[King's Highway|King's Highway]]. Some later settlers may have joined the State Road at its junction with the [[Fall Line Road|Fall Line Road]] near Columbia. Especially the Ulster-Irish in the old [[Ninety-Six District, South Carolina|Ninety-Six District]] used the State Road to reach early settlements in what became [[Newberry County, South Carolina|Newberry]], [[Laurens County, South Carolina|Laurens]], [[Union County, South Carolina|Union]], [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina|Spartanburg]], and [[Greenville County, South Carolina|Greenville]] counties east of the Cherokee Villages. Once the Cherokee left what became [[Pickens County, South Carolina|Pickens]] and [[Oconee County, South Carolina|Oconee]] counties during the Revolutionary War, in 1777 veterans of that war began settling on Cherokee land and probably used part of the Old South Carolina State Road to help get there.

−

No complete list of settlers who used the '''Old South Carolina State Road''' is known to exist. Nevertheless, local and county histories along that trail may reveal pioneer settlers who arrived after 1777 and therefore who were the most likely candidates to have traveled the Old South Carolina State Road.

+

No complete list of settlers who used the '''Old South Carolina State Road''' is known to exist. Nevertheless, local and county histories along that trail may reveal pioneer settlers who arrived after 1747 and therefore who were the most likely candidates to have traveled the Old South Carolina State Road.

For partial lists of early settlers who '''''may&nbsp;''''' have used the Old South Carolina State Road, see histories like:

For partial lists of early settlers who '''''may&nbsp;''''' have used the Old South Carolina State Road, see histories like:

*J.B.O. Landrum, ''History of Spartanburg County: Embracing an Account of Many Important Events and Biographical Sketches of Statesmen, Divines and Other Public Men and the Names of Many Others Worthy of Record in the History of Their County'', 2 vols. (1900, reprint; Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, c1991) ({{FHL|571827|item|disp=FHL Book 975.729 H2L 1991}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/213779035 WorldCat entry].

*Frederick Van Clayton, ''Settlement of Pendleton District, 1777-1800'' (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, c1988) ({{FHL|397544|item|disp=FHL Book 975.72 W2c}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/18802872 WorldCat entry]. The old Pendleton District embraced the present counties of Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens. Includes plats and their owners taken from the "State Record of Plat Books."

*Frederick Van Clayton, ''Settlement of Pendleton District, 1777-1800'' (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, c1988) ({{FHL|397544|item|disp=FHL Book 975.72 W2c}}) [http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/18802872 WorldCat entry]. The old Pendleton District embraced the present counties of Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens. Includes plats and their owners taken from the "State Record of Plat Books."

Contents

Historical Background

From the first contact with Europeans the Cherokee Indians had settlements called the Lower Cherokee Villages in the northwest part of South Carolina and part of Georgia. The most prominent was the town of Keowee. Several important Indian trails radiated out from these villages. These trails would eventually become migration routes for European settlers. The Cherokee resisted most European settlement near their villages. The Cherokee sided with the British during the American Revolutionary War. By 1777 Patriot forces attacked and drove the Cherokee from South Carolina. Patriot veterans soon began to settle in former Cherokee areas.

Charleston was founded in 1670 by English and African immigrants from the Caribbean island of Barbados. It became the largest city and capital of the South Carolina colony. Many trails and roads radiated out from Charleston. In 1747 the Old South Carolina State Road was opened and settlers began pouring north along it into the interior. In 1753 the British colony of South Carolina built Fort Prince George across the river to the east of the Cherokee town of Keowee. It is likely that a branch of the Old State Road went to Fort Prince George.

As roads developed in America settlers were attracted to nearby communities because the roads provided access to markets. They could sell their products at distant markets, and buy products made far away. If an ancestor settled near a road, you may be able to trace back to a place of origin on a connecting highway.

Route

The first European colonists settled in counties along this trail (south to north) as follows:[2]

Modern parallels. The modern roads that roughly match the old Old South Carolina State Road start in Charleston, South Carolina. Take Interstate 26 west (that is north) to Goose Creek. From Goose Creek follow U.S. Route 176 northwest to Henderson, North Carolina.

Settlers and Records

The Old South Carolina State Road from Charleston to Orangeburg was part of earlier routes and already well-traveled by the time the State Road opened in 1747. Settlers who came via Charleston may have arrived by sea, or by the King's Highway. Some later settlers may have joined the State Road at its junction with the Fall Line Road near Columbia. Especially the Ulster-Irish in the old Ninety-Six District used the State Road to reach early settlements in what became Newberry, Laurens, Union, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties east of the Cherokee Villages. Once the Cherokee left what became Pickens and Oconee counties during the Revolutionary War, in 1777 veterans of that war began settling on Cherokee land and probably used part of the Old South Carolina State Road to help get there.

No complete list of settlers who used the Old South Carolina State Road is known to exist. Nevertheless, local and county histories along that trail may reveal pioneer settlers who arrived after 1747 and therefore who were the most likely candidates to have traveled the Old South Carolina State Road.

For partial lists of early settlers who may have used the Old South Carolina State Road, see histories like:

J.B.O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County: Embracing an Account of Many Important Events and Biographical Sketches of Statesmen, Divines and Other Public Men and the Names of Many Others Worthy of Record in the History of Their County, 2 vols. (1900, reprint; Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, c1991) (FHL Book 975.729 H2L 1991) WorldCat entry.

Frederick Van Clayton, Settlement of Pendleton District, 1777-1800 (Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, c1988) (FHL Book 975.72 W2c) WorldCat entry. The old Pendleton District embraced the present counties of Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens. Includes plats and their owners taken from the "State Record of Plat Books."

External Links

Adam Prince, 1920 State Trunk Routes - An Overview describes Trunk Route 2 as the "Old State Road." The route included Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, but where it exited South Carolina is "unclear." Various possibilities described include routes via Landrum, Travelers Rest, and Seneca.

↑Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), 847-61. (FHL Book 973 D27e 2002) WorldCat entry., and William E. Myer, Indian Trails of the Southeast. (Nashville, Tenn.: Blue and Gray Press, 1971), 12-14, and the book's pocket map "The Trail System of the Southeastern United States in the early Colonial Period" (1923). (FHL Book 970.1 M992i) WorldCat entry.